Film Reviews

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

• Rating:
• Director: Callie Khouri
• Starring: Angus MacFadyen
• Details: US / 110 mins / (12PG).

One of those types of dreary chick flicks that Sandra Bullock seems to have taken a franchise on, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood follows our heroine as she negotiates an early mid life crisis with the help of her mom, Vivi (Burstyn) and her pals. Sidda (Bullock) is a renowned playwright (now there's a bit of casting) and over the course of an interview she refers to her kooky mother as a bad parent. When mom's pals, Teensy (Flanagan), Caro (Smith) and Necie (Knight) hear about this slur, they kidnap Sidda and bring her to the Deep South to explain a few things about her mother. And, of course, as is par for the course in these types of films, engage in a lot of tearful remembrances and group hugs.

A hugely sentimental melodrama which attempts to disguise itself as a broad brush comedy, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood is one of those hideously patronising chick flicks (Steel Magnolias, Anywhere But Here) that most people on speaking terms with their sanity do their best to ignore. And even if the film wasn't so bad, the basic morals of the piece seem rather questionable - a good hug solves everything and if in doubt, have a cry. Please don't encourage them any more.

Review by Garreth Murphy